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Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people of all ages in the United States. It's clearly a risk for both adult men and women. However, does heart disease affect women and men differently?
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Heart disease symptoms can differ between men and women. Although doctors still consider chest pain the leading symptom for heart failure in both men and women, fewer than 30% of women who have heart attacks experienced chest pains beforehand. Women can also have other symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, nausea and trouble sleeping. Their symptoms can begin weeks leading up to a heart attack.
Women may stay under the radar for heart disease because of how plaque is distributed in the heart. When plaque builds up in the arterial walls of men, they're clumped in distribution, whereas in women the plaque distributes more evenly, often masking level readings as normal before a heart problem is diagnosed.
Both men and women are at high risk for heart disease if they have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, use tobacco, drink heavily, are sedentary and practice poor nutrition.
Treatment and Prevention
According to the Women's Heart Foundation, more women than men have died each year from heart disease since 1984. It's imperative that both men and women recognize the seriousness of heart disease and take the measures needed to prevent and treat the condition.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Eating right is a major factor in preventing heart disease. Stay away from deep-fried foods and meals with high saturated fat contents. Instead, adopt protein-enriched diets with fresh fruits and veggies.
- Exercise daily. The smallest bit of effort makes the biggest waves when it comes to exercising and fitness. Just 15-20 minutes a day of walking, jogging, an active sport or any concentrated physical activity helps you burn calories, maintain a steady weight and promote excellent cardiovascular health.
- Stop smoking.Tobacco use is a leading risk factor for heart disease. Cutting it out of your daily habit will immediately decrease your chances of heart failure.
Though symptoms and conditions may differ for men and women, there's no doubt that heart disease is a serious concern for everyone. For more information on how you can better prevent heart disease, visit us online at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. If you need to speak to us immediately, feel free to call our Consult-A-Nurse service 1-888-256-7692.
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